Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada Spokesperson signs language law

Ukraine’s Parliament Spokesperson Andriy Parubiy

Ukraine’s Parliament Spokesperson Andriy Parubiy signed the law No. 5670-d on the provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language. 112 Ukraine broadcasted the event.

“President of Ukraine will sign the law in a few hours or days,” Parubiy said.

Earlier, Verkhovna Rada unblocked signing of the law No. 5670-d on the provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language.

On May 10, the District Administrative Court of Kyiv received a lawsuit from the "Institute of Legal Policy and Social Protection named after Iryna Berezhna," in which they are asked to ban Andriy Parubiy from signing the law on language. Parubiy himself considers it an attempt of the pro-Russian revenge.

Dmitry Balakin, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE, stated that adoption of the law on the Ukrainian language affects the right of the national minorities in Ukraine and contradicts the international law as TASS reported.

“This act, which aims for the total Ukrainization, does not contradict only point 11 of the Minsk measures, which provides the right for the language self-determination but it also contradicts the international law and human rights commitments of Ukraine, including within the OSCE,” Balakin said.

He emphasized that the law on the Ukrainian language affects the rights of not only Russian-speaking Ukrainians but many other national minorities.

He also noted that nobody was interested in the opinion of Donbas citizens when the law was adopted.

On April 25, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted the draft law #5670-d on the provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state one on the second reading and in general.